Brake-beam.



E. M. APPLYEBAUGH & G. M. KELLER.

BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED AWL-28. me.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET E. APPLEBAUGH 61 G. M. KELLER.

BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. I916.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" snares EUGENE M. APPLE-BAUGH AND GEORGE M. KELLER, 0F DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO PENNSYLVANIA BRAKE BEAM COMPANY, OF DANVILLE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-BEAM.

araeae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 36 191?.

Application filed Apr-i128, 1916. Serial No. 94,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EUGENE M. APPLE- BAUGH and GEORGE M. KELLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Danville, county of Montour,'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams, of which the following is a specification.-

Our invention relates to improvements in brake beams, the object of the invention being to provide a brake beam in which the compression member and the tension member are integral, the latter being formed by the intermediate portion of the compression member.

A further object is to provide a brake beam in the form of an I-beam .or other flanged bar having its Web cut and forced laterally, forming the tension member of the brake beam, the ends of the tension member being integral with the compression member.

A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of strut, which not onlyspaces the compression and 'tension members apart, but also operates to strengthen the compression member.

. A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of emergency hangers which operate to strengthen the compression member. I

A further object is to provide an improved construction of head, with an improved construction of hanger cooperating therewith.

A further object is to provide a brake beam of extremely simple, inexpensive construction, yet strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating our improvements. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through one end of the beam. Fig. 3 is a View in section on an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the beam showing the head and the hanger supporting the same. Fig. 5 is a view in section on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in from elevation of the upper portion of the head shown in Fig. 4..

Our improved brake beam comprises a compression member 1, and a tension member 2, both formed from a single beam, having a web 3 and flanges 4 at the edges thereon. The particular beam illustrated is an -beam and this is the preferred construc- In constructing our. improved beam we force laterally the intermediate portion of the web 3 to form the tension member 2. The particular operation of course, can be variedbut to all intents and purposes, parallel slits are formed in the web and the metal between the slits is pressed or forced laterally as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The tension member 2 therefore constitutes a bar of metal which is pressed from the web of the beam and which at its ends is integral with the web of the beam. In forcing the tension member from the compression member a longitudinal slot 5 is provided in the compression member which extends throughout the greater portion of the length of the compression member.

At the center of the I-beam we provide an improved construction of strut 6 which is secured at one end by strap 7 to compression member 1, and is provided at its other end with a recess 8 which receives the central portion of tension member 2. Strut 6 is provided between its ends with the ordinary slot 9 and with pin receiving openings 10. At one end the strut 6 is provided with a head 11. This head 11 fitsbetween the flanges 4 of compression member 1, and is made with laterally extending shoulders 12 which bear against the edges of flanges 4. Head 11 is also made with an integral projection 13 which extends through the slot 5 and bears at its end against the intermediate port-ion of strap 7. The ends of strap 7 are bent around and bear against shoulders 12, as shown at 14, and at their free ends are located it aside the main portion of strut 6 and are secured to the strut by a rivet 15 or other securing device which is projected through openings 16.and 17 in strap 7 and strut 6 respectively.

It will thus be noted, particularly by reference to Fig. 5, thatthe improved construction of strut with its attached strap 7, not only insures a strong and rigid connection with the compression member, but also operates to strengthen the compression member.

0n the compression member 1, adjacent its ends auxiliary hangers 18 are provided which may be connected to suitable supports so as to hold the beam in the event of breakage or disconnection of the hangers 27. These auxiliary hangers are provided at their intermediate portions 19, with enlargements 20 which fit inside of the flanges 4 and project into the slot 5. l

The side members 21 of hangers 18 are positioned around the edges of the beam 1, and at their free ends project toward each other and are secured by bolts 22 so that hangers l8 operate as strengthening clamps to reinforce the beam. On the ends of the beam are located heads 23. These heads 23 have slots 24 conforming in shape to the cross sectional shape of I-beam and fit snugly on the beam as shown. The heads 23 are provided with transverse openings 25 to receive pins 26, at the ends of hangers 27. The hangers 27 are of general inverted U-shape, with eyes 28 at their ends to receive the pins '26. Ordinarily the heads are provided with recesses to receive the hangers, but we propose to equip the heads with openings from which the pins 26 cannot jar loose and cause accidents which are common with heads having recesses to receive the hangers andwhich require a locking key of some sort to hold the hangers and heads together.

Various slight changes may be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from our invention and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise details set forth, but consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A brake beam, comprising a compression member having its intermediate portion bent laterally forming the tension member of the brake beam, and forming a slot in the compression member, a strut at one end engaging the tension member, and at its other reduced end projecting through the slot of the compression member, and a clamp around the compression member secured to the strut.

2. A brake beam comprising aflanged compression member having the intermediate portion of its web bent laterally forming the tension member of the brake beam, a strut having a head at one end projecting through the compression member, and a strap around the compression member secured to the strut.

3. A brake beam comprising a flanged compression member having a longitudinal slot therein, a tension member integral with the compression member, a strut constructed at one end to engage the tension member and having a head at its other end, said head fitting between the flanges of the compression member and projecting through the slot in the compression member, and a strap positioned around the compression member having its intermediate portion bearing against the said head, and its ends engaging the said head and secured to the strut.

4. A brake beam comprising a slotted compression member, a tension member integral with the compression member, a strut spacing the members apart and having a head thereon projecting through the slot of the compression member, and auxiliary hangers secured around the compression member and having enlargements thereon projecting through the slot of the compression member.

5. A brake beam having a longitudinal slot in its compression member, .a strut having a head thereon bearing against the compression member and projecting through. the slot therein, a strap clamped around the compression member and secured at its ends to the strut, auxiliary hangers clamped around the compression member and enlargements on the intermediate portions of the hangers projecting through the slot in the compression member. 7 I

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EUGENE M. APPLEBAUGH. GEORGE M. KELLER.

Witnesses:

P. F. FARNSWORTH, ERNEST J. RONEY. 

